Col•o•ra•do (kah-luh-RA-doe) – a state in the west central united states that serves as the ultimate year-round playground due to its undeniable beauty, natural terrain, and perfect seasons. Colorado natives see no reason to leave, and non-natives get here as fast as they can because some just want to play.

This past summer I was introduced to various events that come through Colorado like the Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash and Spartan Challenge.  All of these circuit events are obstacle adventure races that require participants to get down and dirty on a course that tests one’s endurance, strength, stamina, and mental grit. These people don’t mess around…

Footage from last years Warrior Dash

These events are gaining popularity each year as more and more events of this nature continue to spring up. I’m going to let you in on a little secret about THE next event in the world of obstacle adventure racing – The Innagural Mojo Man Adventure Race will take place in Vail, Colorado over the 2012 Memorial Day weekend. Produced by Highline Sports and Entertainment, Mojo Man will occur right before the Teva Mountain Games and give Vail a surge of visitors over Memorial Day Weekend.

Mojo Man will feature Vail Mountain as the backdrop for the event, with participants racing between Vail and Lionshead Villages. The races will be designed to cater to racers of different ages and athletic abilities.  This is perfect for me, because as much fun as something like the Tough Mudder looks, I could never compete amongst those athletes!  Also, Mojo Man could potentially get the summer season started a week early in Vail—who doesn’t like that?  I look forward to seeing how plans for the race will develop over the next few months, and I will be sure to update you along the way.

Mojo Man will be one of the many great events going on in Colorado this summer, so call our team of Friendly. Knowledgeable. Locals.^® to start planning your vacation to Colorado today.

Beaver Creek, Colorado Vacation Home Rentals

 

 

Beaver Creek’s slogan, Not Exactly Roughing It™, can be better understood by staying at the late President Ford’s Beaver Creek Home. Beaver Creek Village combines luxury and comfort to bring visitors and residents unparalleled mountain living. The Village is centrally located in Beaver Creek, so be sure to frequent the Village and take advantage of elegant shopping and dining. While in Beaver Creek, exploring the Vail Valley is easy; the Town of Avon is just down the hill and Vail Village is a short fifteen minute drive away. But let’s get back to the Ford Home…

This amazing house was built in 1983 and was a vacation retreat for President Gerald Ford and his wife Betty. The couple frequented the Vail Valley enjoying this beautiful vacation home during the summer and winter months. Sleeping sixteen, this seven-bedroom home is spacious and luxurious, and makes for a great family or group rental. The property is ski-in/ski-out, so you can ski home for a delicious home cooked lunch and return to the slopes to finish the day. Return home to your oversized hot tub and the only private pool in Beaver Creek.
 
The newly renovated property offers expansive views of the Rocky Mountains from the spacious living area, complete with a deck which is ideal for watching the sunset in comfort.  The sound system and large flat screen television complimented by luxury furnishings, invite you to lounge after an adventurous day on the mountain. The gourmet kitchen  makes whipping up family favorites a breeze and the separate chef’s kitchen invites you to entertain in style with a caterer or private chef. After meals, the tea room adjacent to the kitchen makes for a great place to unwind and converse with friends and family. Or entertain them in the billiards room, home movie theater or on the heated patio to enjoy the clear Colorado skies.

The elegant master bedroom is outfitted with a king bed, gas fireplace, and full bathroom featuring a Jacuzzi tub which will rejuvenate your tired legs. Two more rooms have king beds and private bathrooms while three others have queen beds and private bathrooms, and the seventh bedroom has two twin beds and a trundle bed ensuring plenty of space for everyone. There is also a President’s office that may be used as a den. Navigate your way through the three-story home via the intricately decorated staircases, or enjoy the convenience of an elevator.
 
The historical significance of this home along with its luxury and location make for a fabulous vacation home rental. Luxury furnishings, elegant décor and rare artwork help make guests feel as if they were President. So the next time you come to Beaver Creek, ask one of our Friendly. Knowledgeable. Locals.^®  about the Ford House and get ready for the vacation of a lifetime!

          The first time I went to the Sebastian in Vail, Colorado last winter, it was to attend a dinner/presentation in one of their ballrooms downstairs. While the concierge gave me great directions to the ballroom, I decided that I would take an alternate route in order to explore the hotel and its amenities.

           From the second I stepped into the hotel, I knew it was a special place. I knew that by deviating from the employee’s direction I would find all that the hotel had to offer, and perhaps discover some secret areas. And while I didn’t find any ‘secrets’ per se, I did find a few areas of the hotel that caught my eye by surprise.

            The first place I stumbled upon was the library. The room and décor were fascinating; it looked like a great place to read a book, play some cards or just kick back and relax. But if you really wanted to relax, perhaps the Bloom Spa would be a better option. I am not exactly the spa type, but this spa seemed very inviting. The smells coming from and the design of the spa put my mind at ease—I can’t imagine what a massage would have done. I continued my escapade on to discover not 1 but 2 restaurants in the hotel.

            The first restaurant was more of a café and was called “Market”. They offered a light menu:  sandwiches, to-go lunches, grab and go specials, coffee and seasonal wines. I could imagine myself sleeping in on vacation and shooting on down to Market for a breakfast sandwich and some coffee. Not far from Market was Block 16 restaurant. This is the main restaurant of the hotel that offers seasonal dishes made with fresh and local ingredients. The restaurant also had a large selection of wine to compliment any meal. If hunger strikes and you do not want to visit Market or Block 16 for a meal, your options are far from over.

            Aside from in-room dining, where you can have made to order meals from both Market and Block 16, there are a number of restaurants within minutes of the hotel. One of my favorites, La Bottega, is located less than a minute from the Sebastian and has some of the best sandwiches in town. They also have a full dining menu, but I have only gotten their sandwiches….they’re just that good! There is Osaki’s Sushi & Japanese just next door, and across the street is the Swiss Chalet Restaurant. If you didn’t hike or ski too hard and you can muster up the energy for a 5-7 minute walk, there are a number of various restaurants down on Gore Creek Dr. After your meal, it might not be a bad idea to find your way back to Frost, a bar located in the Sebastian.

            Frost was in a cool room, and definitely seemed like a place where I could relax and have a drink. Or two. Or three or……more. It could also be a place where I could go at night for a livelier bunch. But I could not get distracted—I had an event to attend. After weaving my way through the hotel again, attempting to retrace my steps through the spacious hallways, I arrived at the ballroom (fashionably late thanks to my detour) and had a delicious meal. While I did not stay a night at the Sebastian, I was able to warm up, try some of the food, and see what the Sebastian was all about. My thumbs are pointing up.

Find out more about how our team of Friendly. Knowledgeable. Locals.^® can help you plan your customized summer or winter vacation in any of our fun-filled destinations.

I decided to try hot-air ballooning last weekend.  I have lived in Vail, Colorado for years and I have heard rave reviews about it, but I have never tried it myself.  I called Camelot to make a reservation and spoke with Merlin, a self-proclaimed “sorcerer of the morning skies”.  He told me that we were looking at clear skies for the weekend, so we set up a reservation for Sunday morning.

Sunday rolled around and I really had no idea what to expect.  Hot air ballooning was completely new to me and it made me nervous.  When I got to the takeoff spot I watched Merlin and his crew unfurl a beast of a balloon.  Taller than any building in Vail or Beaver Creek and bigger than the Goodyear Blimp…that was the Sorcerer’s claim.

The feeling of stillness was amazing.  Within only a few minutes we had climbed to 1300 ft, but it hardly felt like we were moving at all.  You can’t feel a breeze because you are moving with the wind, so you really have no sense of motion…it’s a pretty unusual feeling, but awesome!  Merlin told me that, in Winter, you can descend at the same rate as the falling snow.  That must be a spectacular sight!  I can’t wait to check it out next season.

At 1300 ft. you really appreciate how beautiful this area is.  You get a new perspective on the same mountains you’ve seen a million times.  It is an absolute thrill!

After we landed Merlin popped the cork on a bottle of champagne to celebrate another successful journey, as is tradition.  We lounged in the sun, sipping bubbly, enjoying another beautiful day in the Rockies.  Merlin whipped my butt at horseshoes, but it was still a ton of fun.

You should definitely call Camelot to book your own Colorado hot air balloon ride adventure with Merlin.  He is truly a master of his craft, not to mention a really interesting guy.

One of my favorite things about living in Vail is the golf! Colorado is home to some of the country’s most beautiful and challenging courses.  Set against the backdrop of the Rockies, our local courses offer unparalleled vistas to go along with fastidiously manicured greens.  Summertime is all about the outdoors, and there is no better way to enjoy a “Colorado Bluebird” day than hitting the links with some buddies.  As a resident of Vail Valley, I love having access to so many courses that offer me such a variety of terrain.

The Vail Golf Club is one of my favorites!  It is right here in town, and it is considerably flatter than the area’s other courses.  It still offers a great challenge, though, with lots of fairway bunkers and beaver ponds lining the course.  The Vail Club has a course rating of 70.8 and a slope rating of 121, making it one of the “easier” courses in Vail Valley, but my score card usually doesn’t reflect that.

Eagle-Vail has a great public course too.  Located just west of Vail, this course is very convenient and very competitively priced.  The course plays longer than its 6836 yards because of the elevation changes.  The ups and downs make for a great challenge, and offer the possibility of setting a new personal best for your longest drive.  The ball really sails in this thin mountain air!

The Eagle Ranch course is great too, even though it always keeps my ego in check. With a course rating of 74.8 and a slope rating of 141, this is one of the toughest courses you will ever play!  It is an Arnold Palmer Signature design course, so you know you will get every penny’s worth of your reasonable ($95) greens fees.

This winter was absolutely amazing, but I am ready for golf season!  Maybe I will see you out there, or perhaps participating in one of the other many great activities offered in Vail during the summer.

A great way to kick off your vail summer vacation! The country’s largest celebration of adventure sports, art and music, the Teva Mountain Games, are returning to Vail June 2- 5, 2011. The Teva Mountain Games attract professional and amateur athletes from all around the world to compete on the mountains and rivers of Vail in eight sports and 24 disciplines for more than $100,000 in prize money! This year’s events include kayaking, rafting mountain biking, road cycling, World Cup Bouldering, amateur climbing, fly fishing, stand up paddling, trail running and a half marathon.

In addition to the exciting sporting events, the Teva Mountain Games also offer many lifestyle components including: the Mountain Click Photo Competition, the Outside Adventure Film School, Outdoor Reels Film Festival, Mountains of Music free concerts and the Teva Mountain Ball. There will also be expos by the Gear Town and Green Light District as well as the interactive family zone, Adventure Village.

The best part of the Teva Games… spectating is totally FREE! There are also free activities such as the Bear Naked Adventure Village, the Eddie Bauer Zip Line, the Thule Stash and Dash competition, the Bud Light Mountains of Music concerts, the Outdoor Reels Film Series and MORE! All of our Friendly. Knowledgeable. Locals. ® here at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals are looking forward to the Teva Mountain Games and would love to help you book your dream vacation rental!

Find More Vail Colorado Events

Vail Colorado Ski Vacation Activities: Adventure Ridge’s closing day was this past Saturday and I made it there just in time to enjoy some tubing and trampoline jumping before the season ended. Both were quite thrilling but I think the coolest part of adventure ridge is ski-biking, which some of us over here at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals were able to try out. As you can see in our video below, we thoroughly enjoyed it! Adventure Ridge is Vail’s Mountaintop Adventure Center that allows your on the slopes fun to continue into the evening! If you didn’t make it to Adventure Ridge this winter don’t you worry, there are lots of great activities to enjoy there during the summer!

Horseback Tours & Pony Rides

Take a scenic horseback tour from Eagle’s Nest through Game Creek Bowl and back, overlooking the Vail Valley. Suitable for adults and children 7 years and up. With or without lunch- $35- $85. Children ages 2–6 years can enjoy pony rides around our mountaintop corral. $6.

Vail Mountain Guided Hikes – NEW!

Guided hikes on Vail Mountain are offered Wednesday to Saturday during summer operations.  Private hikes are available Sunday to Tuesday and are customizable to your hiking preference!  All guided hikes will meet at the Lionshead Ticket Office.

Top of the Mountain Tours – NEW!

Explore Vail Mountain in an adventurous, open air vehicle.  Tours leave from Adventure Ridge at Eagle’s Nest and head to the top of China Bowl and back. With or without lunch- $20- $40

Climbing Wall
Reach new heights with our NEW climbing wall equipped with a safety harness. $10 per session.

Rebound Trampoline
Catch some air at 10,000 ft. on a modified trampoline with a waist harness attached to bungee cords. You may think this is for kids, but once you see the sheer joy it brings a child- you will want to try it! $10 per session.

Disc Golf
Tee up for this spectacular, self-guided 18-hole Disc Golf Course at the top of the mountain. Front nine is beginner/intermediate and the back nine is intermediate/advanced. Allow 1–2 hours per nine holes. $8 disc rental.

Lawn Sports
Bocce Ball, Horseshoes, Dino Dig, and a new Slack Line Park. Enjoy an afternoon of fun in the sand and sun with your friends. All lawn sports are FREE.

Guided Nature Hikes
Explore Vail Mountain on a free one-hour guided hike with the Gore Range Natural Science School and learn about the area’s flora and fauna departing at 11am and 2pm.

Discovery Center
Learn about the environment through fun, interactive displays or join a guided hike. The center is a cooperative arrangement between Vail Resorts, Walking Mountains Science School and the U.S. Forest Service.

After 4pm, use your $10 evening lift ticket voucher toward purchase of any Adventure Ridge activity.

There are plenty of exciting activities to enjoy at Adventure Ridge and Vail this summer! Contact a Friendly. Knowledgeable. Local. at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals to book your summer lodging!

Vail Colorado Dining Tips: It’s been close to two months now since I’ve been living in the Vail area and I’ve had a chance to try out different restaurants around Vail, Edwards and Avon.  Of course I’ve made a few of these places my regular hangouts. Here is a list of a few places definitely worth checking out while you’re in town with a little info on each.  Please keep in mind there are several other places in each location but I’m just listing the places I’ve been to the most since I’ve lived here. I’m sure the list will get bigger.


VAIL VILLAGE
The George: Great place to chill apres ski. They have a $4 you-call-it for happy hour. It’s kind of a hidden basement location but it’s easy to get to, it’s right before the covered bridge as you enter the Village. It’s a mix of people actually, you see a lot of out-of-towners but a lot of locals do end up going to The George so for me, it’s nice to see familiar faces every time I head over there.  If you go to the back room they have pool tables and the most amazing lazy-boy like couches.  I have yet to try the food there but I hear it’s pretty good and not overpriced.


Tap Room: Kinda tricky to find. It’s all the way at the end of the Village, past the fountain and it’s in the second floor of the Vista Bahn Building, so yeah go into that building and right up the stairs as you come in.  When you first walk in you see the bar but there are some tables to the left. If you want more sitting area, you can go to the back and there you’ll find more tables and places. Oh and one more thing, recently I was there and in the back room next to one of the tables there was a coin operated massage chair…kinda random but just thought I’d throw that out there. (www.taproomvail.com)


LIONSHEAD:

Moe’s: OK, by far the best BBQ place I’ve been to since I’ve been here.  The way it works: You walk in, check out the menu on the board, place your order, find a table, wait for your order to be called up and get your grub on.  The pulled pork and pulled chicken was very flavourable and the mac ‘n cheese was on point.  Cool hangout, cool people, a must go if you’re wondering around Lionshead and the prices are pretty descent. (www.moesoriginalbbq.com)



Garfs: Really called Garfinkel’s but everyone knows it as Garfs. So this place is a bar and a restaurant. It’s a great place to eat outside during the day because you have the mountain pretty much right in front of you. Food is pretty good and atmosphere is pretty chill. They have karaoke on Saturday night I think starting at around 9:00pm if I remember correctly.  After my friends and I found out about the karaoke we started heading there on Saturday nights to enjoy the show a bit.  (http://garfsvail.com)


EDWARDS

Eat and Drink: My roommates and I ended up here by accident, we were trying to go to Dish (which is above this restaurant) and ended up there instead.  Not a bad accident to have though! This place serves a wide variety of wines and cheeses. I was able to get manchego cheese for my house.  This is a nice place to just relax, enjoy some wine and pair it with cheese. This is exactly what we did, we relaxed, enjoyed the wine (the special was Tempranillo that evening) and had a great time. The staff was very friendly.  (www.eatdrinkinc.com)


Sato Sushi: Probably one of the best Sushi I’ve had in a long time.  I had the Albacore. This was actually a suggestions by another local I met that same day and I absolutely loved it. (www.satosushiedwards.com)


AVON
Zacazza: Brick Oven Pizza is pretty much the reason we came over here. It is super close to where I live and pretty much across the street from the Walmart. Pretty convenient all around!  The combination of pizza and wine we had was amazing. Their salads were pretty good as well. Definitely a good pizza place outside of Vail Village.  (www.zaccaza.com)



Paddy’s: A local  pub in Avon is a great chill place all around. They usually have pretty good drink specials like bottomless mimosa specials.  The menu is pretty diverse they have sandwiches, burgers, chili (amazing), fish and chips, the usual pub menu pretty much.  One thing I must warn you though is that the service can be a little slow but that hasn’t kept me from going there on a regular basis. (www.paddysvail.com)


I think this gives a pretty good idea of what kind of places there are around town and what kind of stuff there is to do around here. It just comes down to the atmosphere, people being super friendly and just a good time all around.  For other suggestions on different cuisines I might not have mentioned here and for all your lodging needs, call one of our Friendly, Knowledgeable, Locals here at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals.

Explore the Vail Colorado Dining Guide

Colorado Festivals and Events: In its 21st year, the Taste of Vail is the nation’s premier spring food and wine festival, held at the largest ski resort in the US. Over 5,000 people are able to “taste the Vail Valley lifestyle” which showcases Vail’s world-famous resort village set against dramatic mountain vistas during this annual 3-day event. Participants will experience the Vail Valley’s world-class restaurants, fine wine poured by winemakers and winery owners from top wineries around the world, interactive seminars, auction and dance, the Colorado Lamb Cook Off, apres ski tasting and the popular mountaintop picnic sensory extravaganza at the top of Vail Mountain.

The exciting events are held at some of Vail’s greatest restaurants, bars, and hotels. Each morning, guests have the opportunity to take a 3 hour guided ski with a Vail Resorts ski instructor and a Taste of Vail Chef, winemaker, or sommelier. Top Chef contestant Kelly Liken will be cooking with Colorado Lamb and Belvedere Vodka on Thursday, prior to the 6th Annual Colorado Lamb Cook-Off and Apres Ski Tasting where you can sample and array of lamb dishes courtesy of Vail Valley’s finest chefs and the Colorado Lamb Board. Many more exciting seminars and events will occur throughout the festival, where guests are guaranteed to leave with a great Taste Of Vail! Contact us at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals and let us take care of all your lodging needs so you can come visit for A Taste Of Vail!

Taste of Vail Mission Statement:

The Taste of Vail’s goal is to enhance Vail’s image, positioning and reputation as a world class international resort with serious commitment to fine food and to promote recognition of the Vail life style.

The event offers a variety of experiences on the mountain, in restaurants and classrooms to increase the attendee’s knowledge and enjoyment of food and wine.

Visiting Vail? Check out the RMVR Vail Vacation Planner

Last weekend thousands of excited ragers flooded to Avon, Colorado for the first (and hopefully annual) Snowball Music Festival. Although the ice, mud, and puddles made it somewhat hard to move from stage to stage, I don’t think that stopped anyone from having a great time! The festival certainly held true to its tagline- Music. Adventure. Party. The masses came out decked in onesies, glitter, animal suits, glowsticks, Charlie Sheen masks, hoolahoops and basically anything else you can imagine. Pretty Lights threw down an amazing set to headline the first night and got everyone pumped up for an amazing weekend!


Saturday was filled with high energy performances that made everyone forget it was less than 20 degrees outside, starting off with Colorado’s own, Big Gigantic. Paper Diamond played in the groove tent which was overflowing with people trying get down with Alex B. In my opinion, he probably should have been given the main stage where Local Natives were playing a very mellow, but enjoyable show. From there Classix, Lotus, and Savoy (with the coolest laser show I have ever seen) all rocked it out and Bassnectar closed down the show with an epic performance, as usual! The only bad part about Snowball was that it had to end at 10 pm, but that did not mean the party was over! Practically every bar in town had after parties with different musical guests. It was hard to choose which ones to go to, but I definitely had an amazing time seeing Big G late night at Agave!

Sunday was another great day of music. I had to get to the festival pretty early to represent MPLS when Brother Ali took the main stage at 2pm. It was nice to hear some hip hop after a really electric Saturday night and Brother Ali put on a great show complete with a long freestyle rap after forgetting some of his lyrics. Afro Man took the groove tent stage with a forty in hand and also forgot a few of his lyrics… (I wonder why…) but still busted out a great show with some of the classics we haven’t heard in years! After that I saw a little bit of Miami Horror then headed back to the groove tent to warm-up my toes and secure a spot for my favorite band to dance to, EOTO. Flaming Lips closed the night with a somewhat lackluster performance. I think the lasers shining off the disco ball and the giant balloons were better received than the music. It could have been due to everyone being danced out for the weekend or the fact that front man Wayne Coyne was clearly not on his ‘A’ game. Regardless, it was nice to hear Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots while snow was dumping over the mud and ice fields which is now Nottingham Park. Lucky for me, the night wasn’t over until Alex B. (Paper Diamond) and Dominic Lalli (Saxaphonist of Big Gigantic) were done throwing down an amazing collaboration at Agave!


All in all, The Snowball Music Festival was a great success! They should probably use some bigger tents next year but aside from that, everything seemed to have worked out really well. It was exciting to be a part of the first year and I hope it continues on for many more to come! If you were there this year, I’m sure you’ll be back and if not, it’s definitely worth checking out! Visit RockyMountainVacationRentals.com to have a Friendly.Knowledgeable.Local (who was most likely at Snowball) find the perfect lodging for you!

Don’t worry just yet there is still plenty of time to get in your last minute ski vacation to the Rockies and ski some of the best snow we have had in years! There are still eight weeks left of the season! Plenty of time for you to grab some friends or pick up your family and come see for yourself the awesome skiing we have been enjoying this year.

Closing Dates:
Aspen Mountain: April 10th
Snowmass Mountain: April 10th
Aspen Highlands: April 24th
Buttermilk Mountain: April 3rd
Breckenridge: April 24th
Keystone: April 10th
Vail: April 24th
Beaver Creek: April 17th
Arapahoe Basin: not yet released but usually in June

Spring Ski Vacation Specials are everywhere this season. Get an unlimited lift ticket for $199 valid April 10th till closing day at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and A-Basin. Check out our promotions page at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals for great last minute deals in your destination of choice!

Who moves to a ski town not knowing how to ski or snowboard? Someone who really wants to learn. Last winter I was unemployed, sitting around at home, not sure what I wanted to do with my life, and began to follow the Olympics religiously. Athletes I had never heard of before; Shawn White, Apollo Ohno, Lindsey Vonn, all became idols for me within days. Watching these athletes day after day putting everything they had, everything they spent years training for, into the few minutes they spent competing was exhilarating. Every sport they featured whether it was bobsledding, skiing, or curling, I wanted to learn. The 2009 Olympic games inspired me to move to Vail.

Vail was the natural choice for me because in my research I discovered that Vail is one of the premiere skiing resorts in the world. Not to mention, Gold medalist, Lindsey Vonn, is a Vail native. My toughest decision when I got here though was what I wanted to learn first, skiing or snowboarding? Ultimately, I chose snowboarding. Yesterday was the first day of, what I now realize to be, my long road to becoming a snowboarder.

I woke up Saturday morning excited and slightly nervous about my first day on the mountain at Vail Ski Resort. If you ask me, there couldn’t have been a better day for it. The sun was out, it was cold but not freezing and I was with new friends who were just as excited for me to be getting out there as I was to learn. For days I had been told that I would spend the majority of the day on the ground, but I really felt like proving them wrong. But, boy was I wrong. All in all, my day consisted of one lovely gondola ride to the top, and one four-hour run to the bottom. So far, Vail-1, Jen-0, but I plan on changing that as soon as I can.

I honestly haven’t felt so good and so bad at the same time in my life. I felt like a child learning how to walk. My knees are purple, and every muscle in my body, including the muscles in my fingers hurt. Just keeping my head up seems like a chore, but I’m counting down the days until I can go back out and try again. Even if I spend the next few days falling down the entire mountain until I figure it out, I couldn’t imagine being in a more beautiful place for it. So, whether you’re a beginner or an expert or an Olympian I highly suggest coming out and skiing Vail. When was the last time you learned something new?

Dining in Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado

Christmas time, for me, has always been my favorite bonding holiday of the year. It was the time of year I spent months planning for in advance. Interestingly, I decided to move to a completely new town just one week before the big day. Lost and a little confused as to how I was going to spend my Christmas this year, my new roommate suggested we go out to eat since it was just going to be the two of us. I’ve never been one to go out to eat around the holidays, but this year I decided to use this as an opportunity to get better acquainted with a new friend and this new town.

We arrived for a 6:00pm dinner reservation and were seated quickly. There couldn’t have been more than 30 tables in the entire restaurant, which provided a warm cozy feeling. With subtle decorations and dark wood finishes it truly gave the feeling of walking into someone’s home. As someone who’s always had difficulty ordering, their menu certainly didn’t make it easy for me. Just the wine list alone was daunting to look at, but thankfully, our server made some great suggestions.

After about 10 minutes of reading… and re-reading the menu, we decided on an appetizer, calamari, and two entrées, involtino di pollo and petti di pollo alle fragile. The involtino di pollo consisted of chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and garlic, wrapped with prosciutto, and topped with a Chianti wine sauce, served with sautéed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. Delicious. The petti di pollo alle fragile was chicken breast sautéed with red onions, crushed red peppers, and fresh strawberries in a brandy cream sauce, served over angel hair pasta. My date for the evening was kind enough to let me try his unique dish and I was pleasantly surprised by the use of strawberries in the dish. The service was excellent. My water glass was never empty and we didn’t have to wait a ridiculous amount of time for our food to arrive even though the restaurant was full. Lastly, our server was in good spirits despite having to work on Christmas Eve, and I’ve always been one to appreciate service with a smile.

Too full for dessert, we decided that was the end of our meal. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the food, the ambiance, and the company I was in. I’m always sad when I don’t get to spend the holidays with my family and close friends, but this was easily the next best alternative. I’d be happy to dine at Ti Amo for any holiday in the coming years. If you’d like to book a reservation please contact our concierge services at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals.

Vail Snow Daze. Never heard of it? Well you better listen up and continue reading, or you will be missing out. The party kicks off today with après ski deals all over Vail Village. The best way to find out about these deals is to just head out to Bridge Street and see for yourself all that Vail has to offer. Come Thursday, the party kicks it up a notch with more après deals, the Dummy Demolition Derby, and free chili. The night will finish with Mix Master Mike performing for free in Vail Village. Friday’s festivities continue with, of course, more après deals and Dwight Yoakam playing for your benefit at Ford Park.

If you can’t make it to Vail during the work week because you unfortunately have to work, then make sure to be there Saturday and Sunday. Saturday night after you have hit the mountain hard all day, be sure to head to Ford Park to enjoy the sounds of O.A.R., and did I mention that this concert is free as well? If you are lucky enough to be around Sunday night, then I am sure you will be able to enjoy one more free concert. How about Weezer for free at Ford Park? That sounds nice doesn’t it? Well lucky for you, I am not lying.

So if you are still reading this blog, clear up your weekend, head up to Vail, and enjoy one incredible weekend full of free concerts, après ski parties, and lots of great early season snow.

For any lodging needs this weekend, make sure to call us at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals and we can get you the best deal in town. Maybe we will even see you out in the town. If you’re lucky.

After waking up this morning and looking out the window, I couldn’t help but notice the snow on the ground. Could it really be the first snow of the season? I went downstairs and found my roommates already talking about when we could hit the mountain and just how excited they were that it was finally snowing. Having grown up on Long Island and gone to school in Vermont, I’m not used to having snow this early, but I couldn’t have been more stoked. This is why I came to Vail!! It’s still snowing pretty hard out and even though it’s a Monday, the spirits in the office are extremely high. It’s amazing how some snow can put a huge smile on everyone’s face.

To take advantage of the first snowfall call Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1.888.866.2305

Everyone likes to go out to eat, right? If you have kids, I bet you really enjoy going out to eat and taking a break from cooking a meal for your entire family at the house. Whether going out to eat is a regular activity for you, or if you only eat out on special occasions, this week is your time to go out and treat yourself and your family to a nice dinner out on the town. Since September 20, Vail Village has been putting on restaurant month, jam-packed full of classes, events, deals, and activities for the lucky few who venture out into the Valley this time of year, and this week is Family Week.  Why there not more people here this time of year still baffles me, because the trees are so beautiful and the temperature is perfect everyday.

Today, check out Tasting Tuesdays at Alpine Wine and Spirits. Tomorrow check out “Little Foodies in the Kitchen” at numerous participating locations and try some young chef’s new concoctions. Among these small events, there are specials everywhere in Vail Village for you to enjoy that won’t break your bank. But hurry, Vail restaurant month is only happening until Sunday. Then you will have to wait another whole year to experience it again.

When heading to Vail, the best place for any lodging deal is Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals. Be sure to give us a call at 1.888.866.2305 and maybe we will even see you out on the town and we can enjoy restaurant month together.

10 tips to prepare for ski season

1. Pray for snow. Last year was a bad snow season, hopefully this year will be better. We can only hope.
2. Purchase any necessary gear for the season. Check out the buyers guide from Skiing Magazine.  On newsstands soon. Keep your eyes peeled.
3. Buy your season passes/combo packs. Where do you want to ride this year? All season passes and combo packs are on sale now. Check your favorite ski destinations for details.
4. Plan your vacation to your desired destination. Call us at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals and we can help you plan your winter trip. We are stoked for the season, and we want you to be as well. We will take care of all your needs and make your winter unforgettable.
5. Gather up all your friends/family. You are on your own for this one. No help from me.
6. Put snow tires on your car. Safety first. Nobody likes missing a powder day because they spun off the highway on the way to the slopes because they have bad tires. Don’t be that guy.
7. Start exercising/get in shape. This always creeps up on us; make sure you start preparing your body for the high elevation workout of skiing/riding in the Rockies. You will be happy you did. Wall sits always help me the most. This website should help.
8. Learn how to tune skis/boards. Simple tricks are easy to learn and will save you money and time if you know how to do the basics such as waxing, edge sharpening, and fixing core shots. Skills every rider should know. This website should help.
9. Watch ski films to get stoked about riding this season. One of my personal favorites to get ready for the season. I just cant get enough.
10. Pray for snow. I know this is tip #1 as well, but it’s the most important. The more snow the better. You can never have enough.  I want it to snow every day. I hope you do too.

This morning, the Vail Valley Partnership put on a breakfast scrambler at the Vail Chophouse for local businesses to meet and greet. Being a Connecticut native and a new intern onboard with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, I enjoyed having the unique opportunity to interact with fellow business people in the Vail Valley so soon.

A common thread of the conversations I had has stuck with me throughout the day: a lot of the people that migrate to Vail have a past story, a hometown that is probably not close by, and a common interest for adventure and natural beauty. It’s easy for those of us who are new to the area to quickly feel at home; many of us are making new friends, new business contacts, and establishing a comfort level with the unparalleled setting of Vail.

Although I’m new to the Valley, I have been living in Boulder for over a year. No, I wasn’t a CU student like most 20-something-year-old people living in Boulder. I was one of the drifters that packed up my car after college, and… drove. Having a fellow Tulane friend that relocated to Boulder allowed the move to be a smoother transition, but I really had no idea what would come my way. To be honest, I had imagined that I would be moving back to where I thought my heart remained, in New Orleans. However, since the epic road trip out here, I haven’t been able to consider the thought of parting with Colorado. Not yet. It’s difficult to pinpoint why, but I think it has a lot to do with the humility that comes along with the awe-inspiring Rockies.

Relocating to the Vail/Beaver Creek area has already been an exciting last three days (I told you I’m brand new). My first few days on the job couldn’t have been more informative in a comfortable, yet enthusiastic and professional atmosphere. So far with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, it’s become apparent that I will be embarking on a journey with a talented group of young, innovative, and enthusiastic individuals. On my first lunch break, we ventured into the village to enjoy some local, casual dining at the Tap Room. Naturally, I ordered a sandwich called the “hippie wrap” – a fine vegetarian option that other hippies coming up from Boulder might appreciate. The menu also included a wide variety of pub fare for all you meat eaters, and a decent beer selection, hence the name of the establishment. I was also pleased to attend the last Hot Summer Nights concert at the Gerald Ford Amphitheater with co-workers, followed by some quality time on the town in Vail Village.

I look forward to the next few months that await me with Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals and being further immersed in the serenity of Colorado. We are a team of friendly, knowledgeable, locals, and are eager to assist those of you with that itch to venture out here too. We provide a variety of lodging and concierge services, such as lift tickets, local advice, and adventure packages. Check out our website for upcoming events and more information, or give us a call at 1-888-866-2305.

As the sun sets in the beautiful Vail Valley on a perfect summer night, the only place you need to be is at the Gerald R. Ford Ampitheater listening to free music, hanging with your friends, and enjoying some great people watching. Tonight Toad the Wet Sprocket is on stage as part of their summer tour for everybody in The Valley to enjoy. Dancing is encouraged, but not necessary. Food can be brought in, blankets are always a good idea,  and with all these combined, your fun-meter is guaranteed to be overflowing.

If you enjoy any of the following: fun, friends, food, sunshine, mountains, the 90’s, dancing, laughing, music, meeting new people, getting out of your house, or enjoying some local mountain culture, then I should see you at the amphitheater tonight in East Vail. I’ll be there tonight with my friends from here at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, and you owe it to yourself to come and enjoy some free music as well.   I see only positives coming from an evening of fun at the Hot Summer Nights concert series this evening.

Toad the Wet Sprocket is one of the most popular alternative rock/folk bands of the early 90’s, with two platinum albums and multiple chart topping hits, and you can see them FREE tonight.

For more information regarding the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, the Vail Valley or on finding lodging in Colorado, contact Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals at 1-888-866-2305. See you there. You owe it to yourself.